January 31, 2005

Centre Party asks the police to bring criminal charges against mayor of Tallinn

Centre Party has filed an application to bring criminal charges against Tõnis Palts, mayor of Tallinn and a leader of Res Publica.

Postimees writes that the opposition Centre Party claims that the statement made by Palts in an interview to Kanal 2 on january 25 that he would like to replace current hospital managers with non-political people is a restriction of equal rights and therefore illegal.

Speaking on the topic of nominating hospital managers, Palts told Kanal 2: “We have agreed that if it is possible to choose in the terms of equal opportunities than we would prefer to see someone who is not politically active at the top of a hospital.”

General secretary of Centre Party Kadri Must said that being active in politics is a fundamental right of a person. “If someone restricts the use of such rights it will be illegal and criminally punishable,” said Must.

In his statement Palts referred to Peep Põdder, head of West Tallinn Central Hospital, who is an active member of the Centre Party.

“With such a statement Palts spat me in the face,” said Põdder who has threatened to sue the city government if he is removed from the job under this pretext.